There’s an extra gift in the box for those fans attending this year’s World Grand Prix at Mattioli Arena on October 12th. Before the final takes centre stage, the JDC National Volts final will see two teenage talents, Jack Johnson and Alfie Hutton, lock horns in what promises to be an electrifying scrap for youth darts glory.
The format is short and sharp – best of nine legs – but the stakes are anything but small. £1,500 sits at the finish line, but bragging rights and big-stage experience might prove even more valuable. For Johnson and Hutton, this isn’t just a payday – it’s an audition under some of the brightest lights the youth circuit can offer.
Jack Johnson arrives with a healthy reputation already stitched to his name. Earlier this year, he picked up the JDC Super 16 crown, strutting his stuff under the glare of Milton Keynes’ Arena MK during the World Masters. That performance convinced many he’s not just good – he’s a serious contender for the future. Representing the South-East Region, Johnson has once again flown the flag for a part of the country that just won’t stop churning out darting talent.
Darts World caught up with Jack over the summer:
But don’t expect this to be a one-sided procession. Alfie Hutton, flying the South-West banner, has carved out his place in the final the old-fashioned way: grit, consistency, and a refusal to roll over. His progress to Leicester is a reminder that the southwest is no longer just about beaches and cider – it’s breeding a new wave of darting hopefuls.
This isn’t just a duel over prize money; it’s a glimpse into darts’ crystal ball. With a crowd primed by the World Grand Prix finale, the tension of a short format, and the stage lights cranked up to “blinding,” neither teenager can afford a wobble. Every treble will count, every missed double could be fatal.
For Johnson, victory would rubber-stamp his growing reputation as one of the brightest sparks of his generation. For Hutton, it’s a golden chance to upset the script, plant a flag on the big stage, and show that the hype belongs to him too.
Whatever the outcome, the message is loud and clear: English darts has a new wave of teenagers ready to take their shot. And if Leicester’s Volts final is anything to go by, the sport’s future looks less like a slow burn – and more like a lightning strike.
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Images: Winmau
